Daily Madden: What Will LeBron Do?

Forward LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat passes against CSKA Moskow on October 12, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

LeBron James of the Miami Heat. (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Game Five of the NBA finals takes place in Dallas Thursday night. The spotlight will be on the Miami Heat’s LeBron James after a disappointing game Wednesday. “He has really been piled on. Everyone from players to coaches to fans to the pundits are jumping on him,” John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. “I’m kind of rooting for him to have a big game, I would imagine there’s really nothing wrong with him other than a long season.”

Madden said he’s somewhat encouraged by reports of behind the scenes negotiations in the NFL labor dispute. “The fact that they’re sitting down and talking is big, and I think the fact that it’s owners and players that are sitting down and talking, and away from the lawyers doing all the talking, that’s big.”

Will former Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson be selected to the Hall of Fame this year? John Madden said Anderson’s career will be compared to the other senior finalists and to his success in big games. “They (the selectors) really talk about winning and losing,” Madden said. “Over the years, Super Bowl wins have become big, especially for quarterbacks and coaches.”

In a symbolic gesture, two major league baseball teams drafted players whose careers are over due to paralyzing injuries. “It could mean something in helping the sport get safer,” Madden said. “If it can bring awareness, then I think they’ll push harder to get something done about it.”

(8:30)

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John Madden

John Madden began his pro football coaching career in 1967 as the Oakland Raiders' linebackers coach. After two seasons, he was elevated to head coach. At 32 years of age when he was hired, he became the youngest head coach in the American Footba...